QUICK TRICKS
Chapter 2.
The images throughout the room come quickly into focus as her body rematerializes. She notices immediately that there is a full house in the Justice League conference room. Black Canary is in attendance, seated in a wheelchair with her injured left knee elevated. Wonder Woman is here too. The proud Amazon is heavily bandaged and not in costume. She struggles to put forth a strong front, but it is clear that Diana is very sore and that she should not be anywhere other than a sickbed. Inactive members Martian Manhunter and the Phantom Stranger stand in the background and even honorary leaguer Snapper Carr has made the trip.
All eyes are focused upon Quick Tricks. She realizes that this is a very serious meeting. The composite heroine is the focal point of a discussion that has apparently been underway for some time now. Expressions range from concern to outright anger. Reigning JLA chairperson Aquaman insists that the new super heroine take a seat near the head of the conference table so that she can partake in the inevitably trying proceedings.
The sea king takes a moment to collect his thoughts, for he has been struggling for much of the morning to maintain order within the ranks. When he finally speaks, he does so with the typical conviction of a one-time monarch. Aquaman is very blunt in delivering the position of the JLA. The league is quite alarmed that Quick Tricks has not reversed the spell which merged Zatanna and Jesse Quick into her form. This action was expected once the crisis had passed. The entire membership is in agreement on this issue; the incantation must be undone. The debate has centered upon what extremes the JLA should employ to accomplish this. A good many are in favor of using force if it proves necessary.
Quick Tricks is incredulous at Aquaman's ultimatum. She laughs sarcastically and proceeds to scan the room. The heroine looks into the eyes of each and every member, essentially probing their expressions to determine whether the chairperson's opinion truly is shared by all. To her chagrin she detects no signs of a dissenting viewpoint. Everyone, even the most open-minded and liberal thinkers within the organization, steadfastly support the group's verdict.
The merged heroine fights a strong urge to lambaste her colleagues. Instead she presents a counter argument that combines considerable logic and fiery passion. Quick Tricks contends that regardless of how she came into being, she is her own woman. She has her own personality, her own ambition and her very own soul. While Zatanna and Jesse did not intend for such a happenstance, their joining has created a new person who has as much right to life as her predecessors did.
The JLA contingent has bided its time while listening to Quick Tricks defend herself, but the outspoken Green Arrow can hold back no longer. He chides the composite female by challenging her right to live at the expense of two brave young women. The Flash seconds the archer's objections and others begin murmuring in the background. Sensing strong support from his fellow leaguers, the irascible Ollie Queen recklessly forges ahead without proper regard for substantiating his assertions with solid fact. He proceeds to rip the new heroine for having the audacity to think she can actually replace two super heroines.
Although he always means well, Green Arrow has the uncanny ability to provoke others during what should be calm, rational discussions. In this instance, he has drawn the ire of Quick Tricks. The heroine already feels threatened by the pressure the league brings upon her. Ollie's pointed but flawed comment brings out the combative spirit within her. She spitefully dismisses Green Arrow's argument by quite accurately noting her combined powers dwarf that of Zatanna and Jesse Quick. She may in fact be the most formidable being on Earth, given the Kryptonians' severe vulnerability to the magic she so deftly commands.
Aquaman does not approve of the direction the meeting is headed. Bitter feelings and harsh words will not resolve their dilemma. He attempts to persuade the congregation to retake their seats and remain civil. Alas his prodding fails to get through. His voice is drowned out by those of his colleagues, most of whom feel the need to try to speak over the group. The meeting is thus swiftly reduced to an endless flurry of petty bickering.
The din is suddenly interrupted by a thunderous clap followed by a loud and angry demand to simmer down. Typically he is even tempered. He is known to choose his words very carefully and when he does address the league in such stern tones, others take heed. Superman is disgusted by what he is witnessing. He scolds his fellow members for allowing their emotions to cloud their judgment. The super hero insists that those who can't remain orderly should leave the satellite to allow the rest of the group to effectively proceed.
The conference room is virtually silent as the Man of Steel sits back down. Tension fills the air as heroes and heroines look around at one another. The future of one of their own is at stake; no one makes a move for the exit. Superman's words have the desired effect, however, for calm has seemingly been restored. Everyone will remain to see this issue through.
As a result of today's heated exchange, Quick Tricks views herself as an outsider. She no longer possesses the unwavering trust in the Justice League that was so characteristic of Zatanna. The JLA is determined to restore Zatanna and Jesse Quick to their former selves. This will be done at her expense. If she refuses to comply, Quick Tricks faces the unenviable prospect of a deadly confrontation with the league in order to save herself.
The composite heroine defiantly stands up for her rights. She boldly declares before the group that she will not reverse the spell that created her. Quick Tricks assures them that she does not wish this dispute to escalate into a battle, but she warns her colleagues that she will defend herself. Any attempts to forcibly compel her to carry out their edict will result in a potentially lethal counter attack. She insists that her sense of self preservation takes precedence over the many friendships established with league members and she will reluctantly take appropriate measures to protect herself.
Before the Justice League is able to respond, Quick Tricks casts a teleportation spell to leave the satellite. Several leaguers spring to their feet in an effort to detain her, but even Flash and Superman are unable to reach her in time. The initial inclination is for the JLA to pursue the fleeing heroine, but cooler heads prevail. Batman preaches patience. There is plenty of time for the league to act, but for now it is pointless to provoke a dangerous fight with the temperamental and powerful Quick Tricks.
*****
Two days have passed since the ugly incident in the JLA satellite. Although she has found the time to perform several dramatic feats of heroics, Quick Tricks has spent the majority of the last 48 hours brooding about her future. She remains adamant about her desire to live. The heroine is also resigned to the fact that the Justice League opposes this decision. The league is known for its indomitable spirit and perseverance when fighting for what it believes in. The composite woman knows that they will not give in on the issue and will hound her until their interpretation of justice is done.
An erupting volcano in Sicily catches her eye. For Quick Tricks, this natural disaster is rather routine to avert. She can't help but notice, however, that she has an audience that includes two individuals conspicuously foreign to the island's inhabitants. The merged heroine refuses an offer of super heroic assistance from Flash and Hawkgirl and she proceeds to complete the mission in remarkably short order.
Quick Tricks would very much like to trust the motives of her two costumed friends, but recent events necessitate skepticism. Neither Flash nor Hawkgirl make any aggressive moves in her direction, yet she chooses to take the offensive against them. A lightning swift spell literally freezes the voluntary muscles of the two leaguers, thus rendering them both helpless. A moment later, the three have teleported to a dimly lit underground bunker unrecognized by the incapacitated JLA members.
Quick Tricks apologizes for the humbling and heavy-handed tactics, but she claims that this is merely the first round of a war she doesn't want. She refuses to acquiesce to the league's mandates and will not stand for their intimidation tactics. Quick Tricks believes that her activities are being constantly monitored by the JLA. She demands that this cease immediately or she will use her specialized knowledge of the leaguers to ruin each and every one of them.
Hawkgirl and Flash can now speak, but they have no control over their motor functions from their necks down. The two leaguers are shocked by the growing animosity that Quick Tricks feels towards them and their colleagues. They both stare at the merged heroine, trying to detect some signs of the personalities of Zatanna or Jesse Quick within her. She seems like a totally different person, even from the new heroine that they worked with during the aftermath of the Barratta invasion. Her paranoia is consuming her. Flash fears that it won't be too long before any traces of the intellect, compassion and morality of her predecessors will all but disappear.
There is no need for Barry Allen to spell out his plan to Shayera Hall; both JLA members recognize what is happening and they understand that time is running out on their friends. A day from now it may be too late to ever save Zatanna and Jesse. They must reach Quick Tricks, not by force but rather with a passionate appeal that impacts her conscience and truly reminds her of the women from whom she was spawned.
Shayera and Barry are the most appropriate choices for such a task; hence their appearance in Sicily. Hawkgirl has developed a close bond with Zatanna. The two women are best of friends. The Flash has personal ties with both heroines. He is both a friend and mentor to young speedster Jesse Quick. Barry maintains deep feelings for Zatanna. There remains a mutual attraction between the two.
In studying Quick Tricks' appearance, actions and mannerisms, Flash identifies a curious trait which should prove useful. By outward appearance, the merged heroine has taken on characteristics which are predominantly those of Zatanna. Most of her physique and costume is derived from the sorceress. This makes sense, for Jesse was essentially assimilated into the physical body of Zatanna. It is only natural to presume that the remainder of the new heroine's attributes are proportioned similarly. Barry Allen now understands that this is not so.
When Zatanna effected the merging, she was simultaneously concentrating upon her time spells. As keenly disciplined a mind as Zatanna has, there are limits to what she can do. The magician's mental energies were focused upon the planes and the physical bodies of Jesse and herself. She simply hadn't the will power left to allow for a relatively even split in terms of intellect and personality. Jesse Quick's persona therefore became the driving force behind the composite female.
Barry reasons that this is not what Zatanna had in mind. Jesse Quick is a great kid, but she is young and lacks practical experience. The female speedster can handle a variety of challenges, but she hasn't the composure or mental discipline for the type of crucial spot she and Zee had faced. The strain of the merging coupled with the stress of the past week is proving too much for Quick Tricks to endure. Her disposition is deteriorating and she may soon prove to be a danger to herself and to others.
"Is this really what you want Jess?" Barry asks as the composite heroine turns to face her two captives. "The super speed is nice, but it always was the magic that really enticed you." The heroine snarls defiantly in Flash's direction as he continues. "Both your parents are super heroes. You grew up running with Wally. Max Mercury and I were always there for you, yet none of us could rate with Zee. You always thought we didn't know, but we did."
Quick Tricks realizes that Barry is toying with her conscience. She retorts "It matters not that Jesse revered Zatanna. I am my own woman, independent of their thoughts and feelings. You will NOT refer to me by their names and you will NOT push this pathetic guilt trip upon me!"
Although it is touchy at best, the Justice Leaguers have begun a dialogue with their excitable friend and it is imperative that it continues. Hawkgirl tries to calm her down so that Barry's incessant prodding will not provoke her into ending the conversation. The Thanagarian reminds the merged heroine of the many good times that the two of them have enjoyed. Shayera speaks to Quick Tricks as if she were Zatanna, without addressing her as such. The Justice Leaguer notes that her adjustment to life on Earth has been so much easier because of their friendship.
The embittered Quick Tricks is taken aback by Shayera's sentimentality. Her anger subsides considerably for she retains Zatanna's memories of those times. She still considers Hawkgirl to be her closest friend and smiles while reminiscing those fun moments. With that, the hybrid heroine releases her hold on Shayera and Barry, thus allowing them full freedom of movement within the compound. "I'm not backing down from my position" she explains "but there's no need for me to keep you two bottled up like this."
The Flash opts to press the argument as opposed to engaging in small talk designed reaffirm and strengthen her trust. He half-heartedly thanks the heroine for releasing her grasp on them, but notes that both Jesse Quick and Zatanna would have known enough to exercise better judgment from the outset. The Scarlet Speedster observes that she has lost her objectivity. He further accuses their host of purely selfish motivations, those of which she attempts to hide behind the convenient excuse of being a superior being.
Quick Tricks' blood begins to boil anew. She grinds her teeth and glares viciously in Flash's direction. Shayera steps in between the two of them, for she fears that the composite super heroine might lash out at Barry with potentially tragic consequences. This latest exchange goes beyond what Hawkgirl was expecting. She knows not where Flash is heading with this latest tact.
"You want to kill me 'Quick Tricks'?" Barry Allen questions. He pronounces her name in a sarcastic manner intended to provoke the heroine all the more. Shayera tries to calm the enraged female while simultaneously imploring Allen to cease his tormenting. Instead Flash continues his prodding. "Killing me, Shayera, Katar or anyone else won't change the truth. You may look really impressive on the surface; I'll give you that. But underneath, you're just an immature 8 year old kid, who through sheer luck, got what she always dreamed of. You coveted Zee's powers and now that you've got them you'll be damned if you'll give them up, even if it means sacrificing Zatanna's life! If that's the new prerequisite for entering the super heroic ranks, then kill me now. I've no desire to live in a world with this kind of ideals."
The room is silent save for the steady drip of a leaking faucet in a small bathroom across the floor. The Flash's challenging words have had a stunning effect upon both Quick Tricks and Hawkgirl. The super hero stands motionless as he bravely prepares for a death blow should the composite heroine choose to unleash one. Quick Tricks looks at him for a moment with a blank expression about her. She turns her back to him and takes a few steps. The silence is then broken with a whimper that is soon followed by a flood of tears that roll freely down the face of Quick Tricks. The confused woman buries her face on Shayera's shoulder and sobs uncontrollably.
Ten minutes pass as Quick Tricks regains her composure. She now recognizes her folly in wanting to live at the expense of her predecessors. The heroine thanks Barry and Shayera for risking their lives to make her see the truth. She hugs her two colleagues and asks them to stand back as she prepares to reverse the incantation which created her.
The hybrid heroine closes her eyes and voices her backwards spell. Within seconds her entire form is engulfed in a beautiful spectrum of light. Flash and Hawkgirl squint to see what is happening as the form of Quick Tricks vanishes. Moments later, two familiar forms take shape. As the colored light subsides, both Zatanna and Jesse Quick emerge unscathed.
It is a joyous reunion as the two heroines are greeted by their colleagues. As expected Zatanna and Jesse are both a bit disoriented from the experience. It quickly becomes apparent to Shayera and Barry that there has also been an amnesia effect resulting from the transformation. They assure the beleaguered heroines that the Barrattan crisis has been averted and that there are no more planes needing rescue.
The JLA is notified of the successful return of the two heroines. The foursome prepare to teleport up to the satellite for a debriefing and a medical check for the sorceress and the female speedster. Before activating the transporter, Barry chuckles. " I've really been meaning to do this for some time. Zatanna, I'd like you meet Jesse Quick."
Chapter 2.
The images throughout the room come quickly into focus as her body rematerializes. She notices immediately that there is a full house in the Justice League conference room. Black Canary is in attendance, seated in a wheelchair with her injured left knee elevated. Wonder Woman is here too. The proud Amazon is heavily bandaged and not in costume. She struggles to put forth a strong front, but it is clear that Diana is very sore and that she should not be anywhere other than a sickbed. Inactive members Martian Manhunter and the Phantom Stranger stand in the background and even honorary leaguer Snapper Carr has made the trip.
All eyes are focused upon Quick Tricks. She realizes that this is a very serious meeting. The composite heroine is the focal point of a discussion that has apparently been underway for some time now. Expressions range from concern to outright anger. Reigning JLA chairperson Aquaman insists that the new super heroine take a seat near the head of the conference table so that she can partake in the inevitably trying proceedings.
The sea king takes a moment to collect his thoughts, for he has been struggling for much of the morning to maintain order within the ranks. When he finally speaks, he does so with the typical conviction of a one-time monarch. Aquaman is very blunt in delivering the position of the JLA. The league is quite alarmed that Quick Tricks has not reversed the spell which merged Zatanna and Jesse Quick into her form. This action was expected once the crisis had passed. The entire membership is in agreement on this issue; the incantation must be undone. The debate has centered upon what extremes the JLA should employ to accomplish this. A good many are in favor of using force if it proves necessary.
Quick Tricks is incredulous at Aquaman's ultimatum. She laughs sarcastically and proceeds to scan the room. The heroine looks into the eyes of each and every member, essentially probing their expressions to determine whether the chairperson's opinion truly is shared by all. To her chagrin she detects no signs of a dissenting viewpoint. Everyone, even the most open-minded and liberal thinkers within the organization, steadfastly support the group's verdict.
The merged heroine fights a strong urge to lambaste her colleagues. Instead she presents a counter argument that combines considerable logic and fiery passion. Quick Tricks contends that regardless of how she came into being, she is her own woman. She has her own personality, her own ambition and her very own soul. While Zatanna and Jesse did not intend for such a happenstance, their joining has created a new person who has as much right to life as her predecessors did.
The JLA contingent has bided its time while listening to Quick Tricks defend herself, but the outspoken Green Arrow can hold back no longer. He chides the composite female by challenging her right to live at the expense of two brave young women. The Flash seconds the archer's objections and others begin murmuring in the background. Sensing strong support from his fellow leaguers, the irascible Ollie Queen recklessly forges ahead without proper regard for substantiating his assertions with solid fact. He proceeds to rip the new heroine for having the audacity to think she can actually replace two super heroines.
Although he always means well, Green Arrow has the uncanny ability to provoke others during what should be calm, rational discussions. In this instance, he has drawn the ire of Quick Tricks. The heroine already feels threatened by the pressure the league brings upon her. Ollie's pointed but flawed comment brings out the combative spirit within her. She spitefully dismisses Green Arrow's argument by quite accurately noting her combined powers dwarf that of Zatanna and Jesse Quick. She may in fact be the most formidable being on Earth, given the Kryptonians' severe vulnerability to the magic she so deftly commands.
Aquaman does not approve of the direction the meeting is headed. Bitter feelings and harsh words will not resolve their dilemma. He attempts to persuade the congregation to retake their seats and remain civil. Alas his prodding fails to get through. His voice is drowned out by those of his colleagues, most of whom feel the need to try to speak over the group. The meeting is thus swiftly reduced to an endless flurry of petty bickering.
The din is suddenly interrupted by a thunderous clap followed by a loud and angry demand to simmer down. Typically he is even tempered. He is known to choose his words very carefully and when he does address the league in such stern tones, others take heed. Superman is disgusted by what he is witnessing. He scolds his fellow members for allowing their emotions to cloud their judgment. The super hero insists that those who can't remain orderly should leave the satellite to allow the rest of the group to effectively proceed.
The conference room is virtually silent as the Man of Steel sits back down. Tension fills the air as heroes and heroines look around at one another. The future of one of their own is at stake; no one makes a move for the exit. Superman's words have the desired effect, however, for calm has seemingly been restored. Everyone will remain to see this issue through.
As a result of today's heated exchange, Quick Tricks views herself as an outsider. She no longer possesses the unwavering trust in the Justice League that was so characteristic of Zatanna. The JLA is determined to restore Zatanna and Jesse Quick to their former selves. This will be done at her expense. If she refuses to comply, Quick Tricks faces the unenviable prospect of a deadly confrontation with the league in order to save herself.
The composite heroine defiantly stands up for her rights. She boldly declares before the group that she will not reverse the spell that created her. Quick Tricks assures them that she does not wish this dispute to escalate into a battle, but she warns her colleagues that she will defend herself. Any attempts to forcibly compel her to carry out their edict will result in a potentially lethal counter attack. She insists that her sense of self preservation takes precedence over the many friendships established with league members and she will reluctantly take appropriate measures to protect herself.
Before the Justice League is able to respond, Quick Tricks casts a teleportation spell to leave the satellite. Several leaguers spring to their feet in an effort to detain her, but even Flash and Superman are unable to reach her in time. The initial inclination is for the JLA to pursue the fleeing heroine, but cooler heads prevail. Batman preaches patience. There is plenty of time for the league to act, but for now it is pointless to provoke a dangerous fight with the temperamental and powerful Quick Tricks.
*****
Two days have passed since the ugly incident in the JLA satellite. Although she has found the time to perform several dramatic feats of heroics, Quick Tricks has spent the majority of the last 48 hours brooding about her future. She remains adamant about her desire to live. The heroine is also resigned to the fact that the Justice League opposes this decision. The league is known for its indomitable spirit and perseverance when fighting for what it believes in. The composite woman knows that they will not give in on the issue and will hound her until their interpretation of justice is done.
An erupting volcano in Sicily catches her eye. For Quick Tricks, this natural disaster is rather routine to avert. She can't help but notice, however, that she has an audience that includes two individuals conspicuously foreign to the island's inhabitants. The merged heroine refuses an offer of super heroic assistance from Flash and Hawkgirl and she proceeds to complete the mission in remarkably short order.
Quick Tricks would very much like to trust the motives of her two costumed friends, but recent events necessitate skepticism. Neither Flash nor Hawkgirl make any aggressive moves in her direction, yet she chooses to take the offensive against them. A lightning swift spell literally freezes the voluntary muscles of the two leaguers, thus rendering them both helpless. A moment later, the three have teleported to a dimly lit underground bunker unrecognized by the incapacitated JLA members.
Quick Tricks apologizes for the humbling and heavy-handed tactics, but she claims that this is merely the first round of a war she doesn't want. She refuses to acquiesce to the league's mandates and will not stand for their intimidation tactics. Quick Tricks believes that her activities are being constantly monitored by the JLA. She demands that this cease immediately or she will use her specialized knowledge of the leaguers to ruin each and every one of them.
Hawkgirl and Flash can now speak, but they have no control over their motor functions from their necks down. The two leaguers are shocked by the growing animosity that Quick Tricks feels towards them and their colleagues. They both stare at the merged heroine, trying to detect some signs of the personalities of Zatanna or Jesse Quick within her. She seems like a totally different person, even from the new heroine that they worked with during the aftermath of the Barratta invasion. Her paranoia is consuming her. Flash fears that it won't be too long before any traces of the intellect, compassion and morality of her predecessors will all but disappear.
There is no need for Barry Allen to spell out his plan to Shayera Hall; both JLA members recognize what is happening and they understand that time is running out on their friends. A day from now it may be too late to ever save Zatanna and Jesse. They must reach Quick Tricks, not by force but rather with a passionate appeal that impacts her conscience and truly reminds her of the women from whom she was spawned.
Shayera and Barry are the most appropriate choices for such a task; hence their appearance in Sicily. Hawkgirl has developed a close bond with Zatanna. The two women are best of friends. The Flash has personal ties with both heroines. He is both a friend and mentor to young speedster Jesse Quick. Barry maintains deep feelings for Zatanna. There remains a mutual attraction between the two.
In studying Quick Tricks' appearance, actions and mannerisms, Flash identifies a curious trait which should prove useful. By outward appearance, the merged heroine has taken on characteristics which are predominantly those of Zatanna. Most of her physique and costume is derived from the sorceress. This makes sense, for Jesse was essentially assimilated into the physical body of Zatanna. It is only natural to presume that the remainder of the new heroine's attributes are proportioned similarly. Barry Allen now understands that this is not so.
When Zatanna effected the merging, she was simultaneously concentrating upon her time spells. As keenly disciplined a mind as Zatanna has, there are limits to what she can do. The magician's mental energies were focused upon the planes and the physical bodies of Jesse and herself. She simply hadn't the will power left to allow for a relatively even split in terms of intellect and personality. Jesse Quick's persona therefore became the driving force behind the composite female.
Barry reasons that this is not what Zatanna had in mind. Jesse Quick is a great kid, but she is young and lacks practical experience. The female speedster can handle a variety of challenges, but she hasn't the composure or mental discipline for the type of crucial spot she and Zee had faced. The strain of the merging coupled with the stress of the past week is proving too much for Quick Tricks to endure. Her disposition is deteriorating and she may soon prove to be a danger to herself and to others.
"Is this really what you want Jess?" Barry asks as the composite heroine turns to face her two captives. "The super speed is nice, but it always was the magic that really enticed you." The heroine snarls defiantly in Flash's direction as he continues. "Both your parents are super heroes. You grew up running with Wally. Max Mercury and I were always there for you, yet none of us could rate with Zee. You always thought we didn't know, but we did."
Quick Tricks realizes that Barry is toying with her conscience. She retorts "It matters not that Jesse revered Zatanna. I am my own woman, independent of their thoughts and feelings. You will NOT refer to me by their names and you will NOT push this pathetic guilt trip upon me!"
Although it is touchy at best, the Justice Leaguers have begun a dialogue with their excitable friend and it is imperative that it continues. Hawkgirl tries to calm her down so that Barry's incessant prodding will not provoke her into ending the conversation. The Thanagarian reminds the merged heroine of the many good times that the two of them have enjoyed. Shayera speaks to Quick Tricks as if she were Zatanna, without addressing her as such. The Justice Leaguer notes that her adjustment to life on Earth has been so much easier because of their friendship.
The embittered Quick Tricks is taken aback by Shayera's sentimentality. Her anger subsides considerably for she retains Zatanna's memories of those times. She still considers Hawkgirl to be her closest friend and smiles while reminiscing those fun moments. With that, the hybrid heroine releases her hold on Shayera and Barry, thus allowing them full freedom of movement within the compound. "I'm not backing down from my position" she explains "but there's no need for me to keep you two bottled up like this."
The Flash opts to press the argument as opposed to engaging in small talk designed reaffirm and strengthen her trust. He half-heartedly thanks the heroine for releasing her grasp on them, but notes that both Jesse Quick and Zatanna would have known enough to exercise better judgment from the outset. The Scarlet Speedster observes that she has lost her objectivity. He further accuses their host of purely selfish motivations, those of which she attempts to hide behind the convenient excuse of being a superior being.
Quick Tricks' blood begins to boil anew. She grinds her teeth and glares viciously in Flash's direction. Shayera steps in between the two of them, for she fears that the composite super heroine might lash out at Barry with potentially tragic consequences. This latest exchange goes beyond what Hawkgirl was expecting. She knows not where Flash is heading with this latest tact.
"You want to kill me 'Quick Tricks'?" Barry Allen questions. He pronounces her name in a sarcastic manner intended to provoke the heroine all the more. Shayera tries to calm the enraged female while simultaneously imploring Allen to cease his tormenting. Instead Flash continues his prodding. "Killing me, Shayera, Katar or anyone else won't change the truth. You may look really impressive on the surface; I'll give you that. But underneath, you're just an immature 8 year old kid, who through sheer luck, got what she always dreamed of. You coveted Zee's powers and now that you've got them you'll be damned if you'll give them up, even if it means sacrificing Zatanna's life! If that's the new prerequisite for entering the super heroic ranks, then kill me now. I've no desire to live in a world with this kind of ideals."
The room is silent save for the steady drip of a leaking faucet in a small bathroom across the floor. The Flash's challenging words have had a stunning effect upon both Quick Tricks and Hawkgirl. The super hero stands motionless as he bravely prepares for a death blow should the composite heroine choose to unleash one. Quick Tricks looks at him for a moment with a blank expression about her. She turns her back to him and takes a few steps. The silence is then broken with a whimper that is soon followed by a flood of tears that roll freely down the face of Quick Tricks. The confused woman buries her face on Shayera's shoulder and sobs uncontrollably.
Ten minutes pass as Quick Tricks regains her composure. She now recognizes her folly in wanting to live at the expense of her predecessors. The heroine thanks Barry and Shayera for risking their lives to make her see the truth. She hugs her two colleagues and asks them to stand back as she prepares to reverse the incantation which created her.
The hybrid heroine closes her eyes and voices her backwards spell. Within seconds her entire form is engulfed in a beautiful spectrum of light. Flash and Hawkgirl squint to see what is happening as the form of Quick Tricks vanishes. Moments later, two familiar forms take shape. As the colored light subsides, both Zatanna and Jesse Quick emerge unscathed.
It is a joyous reunion as the two heroines are greeted by their colleagues. As expected Zatanna and Jesse are both a bit disoriented from the experience. It quickly becomes apparent to Shayera and Barry that there has also been an amnesia effect resulting from the transformation. They assure the beleaguered heroines that the Barrattan crisis has been averted and that there are no more planes needing rescue.
The JLA is notified of the successful return of the two heroines. The foursome prepare to teleport up to the satellite for a debriefing and a medical check for the sorceress and the female speedster. Before activating the transporter, Barry chuckles. " I've really been meaning to do this for some time. Zatanna, I'd like you meet Jesse Quick."